20th AFL Team

[Walshawk]

Population growth is overrated. For example, most of Melbourne’s growth is from Asia. There are half a million people of Chinese background in Melbourne. And nearly as many Indians, Does this really help the viability of AFL clubs?

 

[Coolangatta]

Population growth is overrated. For example, most of Melbourne’s growth is from Asia. There are half a million people of Chinese background in Melbourne. And nearly as many Indians, Does this really help the viability of AFL clubs?

Good point. Unless they start getting into footy, it won’t help grow the game.

 

[Canberra Pear]

It wouldn’t make sense to have three teams on SEQ and only two in Perth.

If they want more games in the new stadium from 2033, the logical step is for the Suns to play two games there, rather than in Darwin.

If it's for Team 20, WA3 does make more sense than SEQ3. But if WA3 misses out, SEQ3 might edge ahead if there's ever another expansion round.

Both SEQ and Perth have similar population growth, so that's not a factor.

But currently, SEQ has about 1.5m more people than Perth. SEQ has the population of Perth and Adelaide combined.

SEQ also has more defined regions than Perth.

At this stage the assumption for WA3 is another team Perth team, likely based in Joondalup. Joondalup is only 25km from Optus, it doesn't offer much other than "another team".

Whereas Brisbane only has the one team. It has room for a Brisbane derby. Or the Sunshine Coast will be big enough for a team in a few decades.

So I don't think SEQ3 makes more sense than WA3 now, but that won't always be the case. Especially if footy continues to make gains in SEQ.

 

[Walshawk]

If it's for Team 20, WA3 does make more sense than SEQ3. But if WA3 misses out, SEQ3 might edge ahead if there's ever another expansion round.

Both SEQ and Perth have similar population growth, so that's not a factor.

But currently, SEQ has about 1.5m more people than Perth. SEQ has the population of Perth and Adelaide combined.

SEQ also has more defined regions than Perth.

At this stage the assumption for WA3 is another team Perth team, likely based in Joondalup. Joondalup is only 25km from Optus, it doesn't offer much other than "another team".

Whereas Brisbane only has the one team. It has room for a Brisbane derby. Or the Sunshine Coast will be big enough for a team in a few decades.

So I don't think SEQ3 makes more sense than WA3 now, but that won't always be the case. Especially if footy continues to make gains in SEQ.

There will always be more footy fans in Perth than SEQ, where the vast majority of people prefer NRL. And the Sunshine Coast is a bunch of towns and villages. If they can’t sustain an NRL team (there is no talk of that), there is no chance of an AFL team.

 

[Fire]

Population growth is overrated. For example, most of Melbourne’s growth is from Asia. There are half a million people of Chinese background in Melbourne. And nearly as many Indians, Does this really help the viability of AFL clubs?

Yes, but its longer term. Its the 2nd and 3rd generations the AFL targets.

 

[Badger17]

There will always be more footy fans in Perth than SEQ, where the vast majority of people prefer NRL. And the Sunshine Coast is a bunch of towns and villages. If they can’t sustain an NRL team (there is no talk of that), there is no chance of an AFL team.

There actually has been talk of an NRL team on the Sunshine Coast, it's just way down the list.

You could put an NRL team on the Sunshine Coast, but why would you when you could put one in Ipswich or south of the river in Brisbane, not to mention Perth, NZ, Adelaide, etc.

 

[Canberra Pear]

There will always be more footy fans in Perth than SEQ,

That might be considered less incentive to put in a team.

where the vast majority of people prefer NRL. And the Sunshine Coast is a bunch of towns and villages.

Reiterating that I'm talking well down the track. If Team 20 comes in after 2030, there's a good chance that the 21/22 expansion wouldn't happen for another 25-30 years.

By which point the Sunshine Coast (plus Noosa) will have nearly 700k people. Those towns and villages will have infilled and become suburbs.

And the northern suburbs of Brisbane will be encroaching and could be included in the catchment (the Moreton Bay region will be pushing 1m).

If they can’t sustain an NRL team (there is no talk of that), there is no chance of an AFL team.

As Badger said, the NRL have bigger fish to fry.

Given the southern influx expected to fuel the growth, the Sunshine Coast could be quite AFL-friendly.

And imagine the scenes when the AFL is the first to plant the flag in Queensland's third largest city. Could give them a massive headstart.

 

[Coolangatta]

That might be considered less incentive to put in a team.



Reiterating that I'm talking well down the track. If Team 20 comes in after 2030, there's a good chance that the 21/22 expansion wouldn't happen for another 25-30 years.

By which point the Sunshine Coast (plus Noosa) will have nearly 700k people. Those towns and villages will have infilled and become suburbs.

And the northern suburbs of Brisbane will be encroaching and could be included in the catchment (the Moreton Bay region will be pushing 1m).



As Badger said, the NRL have bigger fish to fry.

Given the southern influx expected to fuel the growth, the Sunshine Coast could be quite AFL-friendly.

And imagine the scenes when the AFL is the first to plant the flag in Queensland's third largest city. Could give them a massive headstart.

But like you said, Brisbane is a one team city with room for another in the future.

A 2nd Brisbane side could always play a home game on the Sunny Coast to incorporate them.

I still think Auckland and Newcastle would have more to offer if they ever expand to 22 teams as they’re new markets but if the AFL were cautious about the risk then Brisbane 2 and Perth 3 would make more sense.

 

[Bjo187]

But like you said, Brisbane is a one team city with room for another in the future.

A 2nd Brisbane side could always play a home game on the Sunny Coast to incorporate them.

I still think Auckland and Newcastle would have more to offer if they ever expand to 22 teams as they’re new markets but if the AFL were cautious about the risk then Brisbane 2 and Perth 3 would make more sense.

I think for the afl, once they have good and solid representation in nsw and qld and are closer to matching the nrl there (let's say 75 percent the size), only then would they look overseas to a place like Auckland.

Currently nsw and qld make up 25 percent of participants in Australia, which is better than I thought, so they are half way to matching their population, of around 50 percent of Australia.